Applaudable Teen Rescues Two Swimmers At Ocean Beach, One Still Missing

Wednesday afternoon around 4 p.m., emergency crews from the San Francisco Fire Department and the Coast Guard received calls about three distressed swimmers at Ocean Beach near Lincoln Way. A 14-year-old boy remains missing a day later, but 17-year-old surfer Tony Barbero is being credited with rescuing the boy's father and cousin.

Barbero, who also happens to be the son of SFFD Capt. Joe Barbero, spotted a teenaged boy and his father in the water while surfing in the area. When Barbero paddled over, the boy explained the man couldn't swim. The boy floated to shore with Barbero's surfboard while Barbero pulled the man to shore. The teen recounted the rescue to Bay City News this morning from St. Ignatius College Prep, where he goes to school, saying he "instantly swallowed my fear" and channeled his survival instincts. The man was unconscious and had to be resuscitated by by paramedics on the beach. "I'm overwhelmed," Barbero told the Chronicle. "I just came down here to catch some waves."

The third distressed swimmer, who remains missing, has been identified as 14-year-old Marco Cornejo. The search for Cornejo included several boat crews and a Coast Guard helicopter, as well as crews on the beach, but it was scaled back last night.